5 places you’ll want to see in the New Year
A new year means a new travel bucket list! As 2020 gets closer and closer, it’s time to start planning your tropical getaway. With so much to see and do across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, it can be hard to narrow down which destination to choose. Get inspired with our list of the top five places you’ll want to see in the New Year and kick off the new decade in style!
One of the hottest travel trends for the new decade is vacationing off the beaten path. If you’re looking to explore the road less travelled, then Isla Holbox should be on your travel bucket list. Located off the northern coast of Cancun and within the Yum Balam Nature Reserve, this small island is away from the hustle and bustle of Mexico’s major tourist spots. One of the best ways to explore this car-free island is on a bike or by foot – so it’s the perfect place if you want to get active and keep up with your resolutions in 2020.
Where to stay: Embrace the island lifestyle all while enjoying modern conveniences and five-star service at Mystique Blue Boutique Suites. This luxury resort was influenced by the island’s lush natural landscapes with 38 spectacular suites. After a day spent exploring the island, you can enjoy an interactive culinary experience influenced by your palette before watching the sunset over the horizon over cocktails.
2020 is the International Year of Plant Health, making it the perfect time to visit one of the best eco-tourism destinations in the world – Costa Rica! This exotic destination is home to over 5% of the world’s biodiversity with lush landscapes ranging from majestic waterfalls and secluded beaches to jungles and volcanos. Try out exciting eco-activities like ziplining high above the canopy, rafting down white-water rapids, visiting a volcano and more.
Where to stay: Riu Palace Costa Rica is an ideal home base from which to explore Costa Rica’s lush interior. Interact with the native wildlife around the resort grounds or head out on an eco excursion at the nearby Diamante Eco Adventure Park. Afterwards, cool off by one of the many pools or test out the complex’s brand-new ‘Splash Water World’ water park with a mini splash-pad for kids.
The rise of influencer culture across social media has led to the growing popularity of ultra-luxurious vacations! Travellers are saving up their hard-earned money to enjoy an insta-perfect getaway with premium amenities and elegant suites. Located just outside of Cancun, the exclusive resort enclave of Playa Mujeres is the ultimate destination for luxury-seekers, with pristine white-sand shores and world-class resorts perfect for living the influencer lifestyle.
Where to stay: Playa Mujeres is expected to become even more popular with the highly-anticipated opening of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun in spring 2020. You can Vacation Like a Star™ with entertainment-themed activities like mini-golf and a lazy river, A-lister amenities like 24-hour room service and VIP-worthy accommodation options. Planning an adults only getaway? The property will be home to the first-ever Adult Scene, a resort-within-a-resort exclusively for guests aged 18+.
The Cuban capital city of Havana has been a long-time favourite for travellers in search of history and culture – and the city recently celebrated its 500th birthday! In anticipation of this milestone, the city restored its popular historic sites and built modern new hotels. You can explore the city and all it has to offer as you stroll along the cobblestone streets of Old Havana – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit bars once frequented by Ernest Hemingway and sample delectable cuisine from the city’s booming culinary scene.
Where to stay: Who says you have to choose between a city adventure and a beach escape? Havana is just a day excursion away when you stay at the adults only Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa in Varadero. Relax on a Bali bed overlooking the pristine white-sand shores and sip on mojitos at the swim-up bar during the day, then soak in live music at the Jazz Bar and visit the XS Nightclub in the evening.
Thrill-seeking activities and adrenaline-pumping excursions are becoming more and more sought-after. Los Cabos offers a wide selection of unique vacation experiences and we expect that trend to continue and increase during the next decade. Offering a unique blend of desert and coastal landscapes, there are plenty of bucket-list-worthy adventures to be had in this hotspot – whether you want to bungee jump over the desert, hike along the rugged trails of Fox Canyon or ride an ATV through the desert.
Where to stay: After a day of thrills and excitement, all you’ll want to do is lounge by the infinity pool at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas. The resort overlooks one of Cabo’s distinct rocky archways, which you can look out to from the sprawling pool and around the resort. Looking for a bit more excitement? Head next door to Riu Santa Fe to enjoy unlimited free access to the water park and the adults only RIU Pool Parties.